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That’s Not “PC”
Indigenous people’s day used to be called Columbus Day.
Change President’s day because George Washington owned slaves.
Many words we cannot say: crippled- tell story
I’m changing the definition of PC.
In my world it will no longer be known as Politically Correct but PLEASING CHRIST
Galatians 1:10 “Am I now [a]trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel [that tells the good news of salvation through faith in Christ], so we speak, not as [if we were trying] to please people [to gain power and popularity], but to please God who examines our hearts [expecting our best].”
What is PC?
Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
To please the LORD means we bring Him pleasure, He delights in our ways.
FAITHULNESS is PC.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.”
Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 10:22 “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
The word faithful and faith are interchangeable, it is from the same Greek word. This word is also the same word that describes Jesus as “the Faithful and True witness” in Rev 3:14.
“I cannot brag of my faithfulness to Christ, but I can brag of His faithfulness to me.”
That’s a great saying, and I get what the guy is trying to say, but it’s not scriptural.
You are in a marriage relationship; we are the Bride, He is the Groom.
faithful defined: faithful, loyal, constant, staunch, steadfast, resolute mean firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance. faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted
We are supposed to be followers of Jesus and He was faithful to the end.
We must be faithful to the end. There is no prize for quitting.
I am not standing here telling you I am the shining example of faithfulness.
I have sinned.
I have fallen short.
I have been disobedient.
I have failed.
I have went around that same mountain more times than I can count.
But I love Him and I will be faithful to my commitment to Him to the end. I have made up my mind.
Just like my marriage. We don’t speak the word “divorce” because its not an option. I made a vow and a commitment to Matt to be faithful and true, to give my heart to no other.
Guard your heart.
Adultery doesn’t just happen.
Spiritual adultery doesn’t just happen over night.
You may fall, again. Get up and keep going.
You may fail, again. Get up and keep going.
You may sin, again. Get up and keep going.
You may be persecuted and suffer beyond measure, but quitting is not an option.
You have to get up, wipe the dust off your feet and keep going.
Ex: Evan’s marathon
In what ways are we to be faithful?
Being Faithful to His name and to His Word.
Rev 3:8 ‘I know your deeds. See, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut, for you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not renounced or denied My name.
FAITHFUL TO KEEP HIS WORD– Listen to, give heed to, obey His Word
The problem with most Christians is that they don’t even know what the Word says, so they are carried away with the ways of the world.
“Faith without works is dead faith” James 2:14-26 (James is not refuting Paul)
How do you claim to have faith in Christ and be faithful to Him with no sincere devotion to obey Him and His Word?
Faith confesses Jesus as Savior, but also obeys Him as LORD.
True faith always manifests itself in obedience to God and compassionate works.
True faith is active and enduring.
James says, “Give a destitute brother or sister food”
Abraham showed his faith by his willingness and commitment to obey God in sacrificing his son.
James is not saying that “faith and works save us”, rather he contends that TRUE FAITH, those who are TRULY FAITHFUL to God are so compelled by their love of God and a desire to please Him and that it is expressed in obedience and righteous deeds.
Faith without works is dead faith. Works without faith are dead works.
Neither will produce salvation or anything good.
AND FAITHFUL TO HIS NAME–what does this mean? Faithful to HONOR is name, not smear it.
Do your actions and words reflect an honoring of Jesus?
TO HONOR-
respect that is given to someone who is admired. : good reputation : good quality or character as judged by other people. : high moral standards of behavior.
Wives- we can honor our husbands, build them up, speak well of them, give them a good reputation OR we can be as rottenness in their bones.
Jesus is faithful to finish the work He began in you and you must be faithful to finish YOUR race.
Ps Jay preached on this last week, you must run YOUR race, not someone else’s race.
Faithful to walk out your calling to the end.
FAITHFUL to Him to the end.
Sanctification is PC
sanctified, sanctifying. to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. to purify or free from sin:
Romans 8:8 “and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given[a] us His Holy Spirit.”
sexual immorality- any sex outside of the covenant marriage between a man and a woman
not all sin is the same (Its only the same in that it can be forgiven)
sexual immorality robs another of their purity before God
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore sexual immorality defiles your temple.
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
In Ch. 7 we are told that the law is powerless to deliver us from the sinful nature and its desires. BUT, spiritual life, freedom from condemnation, victory over sin and fellowship with God come through union with Christ and following the leadings and promptings of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We must be FAITHFUL to overcome the flesh and walk in the Spirit.
“I am human therefore I have to sin.” WRONG. You are born again of the seed, sperm of God in order to OVERCOME THE FLESH!
THIS is more than possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is PC.
What is not PC?
FEAR of man
Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the Lord will be exalted and safe.”
Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
John 12:42-43 “Nevertheless, even many of the leading men believed in Him [as Savior and Messiah], but because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear that [if they acknowledged Him openly] they would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated); 43 for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God.”
Rev 21:7-8 “He who overcomes [the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But as for the FEARFUL and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Are you motivated by the approval of men? or the approval of God?
DO you seek to please men or Please Jesus?
Do you fear the rejection of men?
Do you care more about what people think about you than what God thinks about you?
A fear of what man thinks will cause you to forsake God and His ways.
A fear of man leads to compromise.
Matthew 10
“If you are ashamed of Me before men I will be ashamed of you before My Father in heaven, but if you acknowledge Me before men I will acknowledge you before my father in heaven.”
Here’s what Jesus was saying in no uncertain terms, “If you really want to follow Me, there is no such thing as walking the fence. You are either for Me or you’re against Me. You are either part of the problem or you are part of the solution. You are either an asset or you are a liability. In His own words,
You either gather with Me or you scatter!
The fear of man will cause you to deny God’s Word and His ways.
When you fear something—or someone—you allow it/them to control you. As Ed Welch wrote, “Their opinions, possible opinions, attitudes, or withholding of love become YOUR master.”
Unfortunately, the fear of man can be a hindrance to evangelism, as well as an area of lingering sin in people’s lives.
The fear of man is when you think you need something to live, be happy, fulfilled, etc. but you wonder if you might *not* get it.
For instance:
If you need comfort—you’ll fear physical pain.
If you need approval from others—you’ll fear being criticized.
If you need love—you’ll fear rejection
If you need admiration for attractiveness—you’ll fear getting fat.
DECIPHERING THE FEAR OF MAN:
Are you over-committed? Is it hard for you to say no even when wisdom indicates you should? (people pleaser).
Is self-esteem a critical concern for you? (fear of man extraordinaire in the US). Does your life revolve around what others think of you?
You fear man if you are UNWILLING to confess sin to others for accountability (wife, pastor, trusted friend) b/c you don’t want to feel SHAMED in their eyes.
Are you always second-guessing decisions based on what others think?
Do you get easily embarrassed?
Do you ever lie—even white lies? Lying and other forms of living in the dark are usually ways to make ourselves look better before others.
Aren’t most diets—even when they are ostensibly under the magazine heading of “health” – dedicated to impressing others? The desire for “praise of men” is one of the ways we exalt people above God.
Now… If you DON’T deal with these sins biblically, they will SOON dominate you; it will be your people-idol. Your idol of people-pleasing and people-worshipping will soon own and dominate you.
SO I ask you, are you PC?
Are your actions PC?
Are your words PC?
Are your FB post PC?
Are your conversations at home, at work and at church PC?